Lives in Cricket No 18 - FR Foster

Chapter Ten The cloudy days of autumn and of winter It is believed that Foster remained in Birmingham throughout the war, and was definitely still at the Hagley Road flat in 1944. However in 1946 he certainly rung the changes. A letter dated 10 May, to one Norman Malyon of Walthamstow, gives Foster’s address as 33 Bury Street, St. James, round the corner from his address in 1931: ‘I have moved to a bigger place’. He tells Malyon he has lost the photos he had sent him to sign (‘cuss it!’) and then carries on with some incomprehensible comments about dogs. Thirteen days later he wrote again to Malyon. The letter commences: ‘Yes I played with and against Gilbert Jessop, he can’t help it, neither can C.B.Fry another thing like that. Alright send him running to me, I’ll make him sign! I cannot find that photo cutting yet and maybe one of the maids pinched it off my table. I moved because I was losing things from my mom. How glad I am. I am home at last here, and they are charming people.’ He then lists his first four for the forthcoming Epsom Derby, reckoning he will get them at 500-1. He finishes by informing the recipient that he is going to Australia for the 1946/47 Ashes tour to report the Tests. ‘England will win the Rubber 5-0.’ Steve Musk, author of the Lives in Cricket book on Michael Falcon remarks: ‘thieving maids, losing things – some evidence of paranoia perhaps?’ Also his forecast of the Ashes result, and the statement he will be in Australia reporting shows no grasp of reality. On 8 June, Foster writes to ‘Norman’s Dad’ from another new address, 41 Hertford Street, a large house in Mayfair: ‘I am terribly sorry, got stuck in Baker Street until 5 pm; could not move and I cussed like ’ell. [ sic ] A bobby said, “Are you talking to me?” That did it! I laughed like nobody’s business. Please note change of address. Wot! Again!’ ‘A somewhat eccentric letter,’ reckons Steve Musk, as well he might. Another strange thing is that, on 10 June, Foster wrote to Malyon from yet another address, 46 Clarges Street, just off Piccadilly. It was one of a furnished service suite. Three addresses in a few days? Just what was happening? And what a strange letter: Look Norman, this is the day. Went to the fight last night with a priest. Bruce is a world beater, yes sir. 71 Have just put an offer through for a 108 71 Bruce Woodcock, who had just outpointed Freddie Mills at Harringay for the British heavyweight title. Despite Foster’s optimism Woodcock always fell well short on the world stage. When Woodcock touched gloves with challenger Jack Gardner for the British ‘and Empire’ heavyweight titles at Earl’s Court in 1950, one boxing insider remarked: ‘Well, a straight title fight; we’ll see what he’s made of now.’ Gardner hammered him to defeat and retirement.